CONTAINER BIN

BAC DE STOCKAGE

English Abstract

CONTAINER BIN
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A rectangular container having a pair of cover por-
tions which are hinged to one pair of opposed side walls of
the container and which meet when closed with the lateral free
edges of the cover portions engaging the other pair of opposed
side walls of the container. The meeting edge of each cover
portion is crenellated with a plurality of interspaced teeth
and recesses, each tooth being wedge-shaped and each recess
being sloped, the teeth of the cover portions interfitting
when the cover is closed and downwardly abutting recesses.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A stacking container having a bottom and two pairs
of opposed side walls, a cover comprising two portions hinged to one
pair of opposed side walls, the opposed lateral edges of each cover
portion having means to engage the upper edges of the other pair of
opposed side walls of the container when in closed position, the outer
free edges of the cover portions meeting, when the cover is in closed
position, to present a flat upper surface of the cover, said free edges
each being crenellated, with a plurality of spaced teeth having recesses
therebetween, to interfit one with the other when closed, each tooth
being wedge-shaped and tapering outwardly towards the upper surface of
the cover, the recesses being sloped downwardly from the upper surface
of the cover to upwardly abut the teeth, when the cover is in closed
position, each cover portion being sealable one on each of the other
pair of opposed side walls.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the means
to engage the upper edge of each of the other pair of opposed side walls
and said opposed side wall having aligned apertures for receiving sealing
means whereby each cover portion is sealable.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVE~TION
This invention relates to a stac~ing container
or bin for shipping packed goods and more particularly to a
cover or lid for closing such a container.
BACK~ROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sealable containers or tote boxes are presently used
in merchandlsing to facilitate the transportation of piece goods
such as hardware items which can be loaded into the containers.
One type of box is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 844,948
issued January 2~, 1970 to M.S. Industries Incorporated assignee
of Kenneth R. Bockenstette. In that box the outer free edges
o~ the cover elements have complementary raised and depressed
areas which interfit when the cover elements are closed to
?' present an upwardly flat surface for stacking purposes. A pro-
blem associated with such a ~ox construction is that is does
not protect the box adequately against pilferage. In other
words, it is possible to gain entrance to the box and remove
a portlon of tne contents without detection.
It is an object of the present inventlon to provide
a container which will give increased protectlon against
pilferage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
,,
Essentially the invention consists of a stacking
container having a bottom and two pairs of opposed side walls,
a cover comprising two portions ninged to one pair of opposed
side walls, tne opposed lateral edges of each cover portion
having means to engage the upper edges of the other pair of
opposed side walls of the container when in closed posltion,
the outer free edges o~ the cover portions meeting, when the
cover is in closed position, to present a ~lat upper surface
of the cover, said free edges each being crenellated, with
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a plurality of space teeth having recesses therebetween, to
interfit one with the other when closed, each tooth b~ing
wedge-shaped and tapering outwardly towards the upper surface
of the cover, tne recesses being sloped downwardly from the
upper surface of the cover to upwardly abut the teeth, wnen
the cover is in closed position, and means for sealing each
cover portion one on each of the other pair of opposed side
walls.
DElAILED DESCRIPTION
An example embodiment o~ the invention is shown
in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stacking
r,
container having a pair of ninged cover portions with crenellated
free edges;
Flgure 2 is a view of the upper portion of tne :~
: container o~ Figure 1 showing the cover portions in open position;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectlonal view taken along line
3-3 of Figure l; and
F1gure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
4-4 of Figure 1.
- The example embodiment consists o~ a container 10
having a bottom 12, a first pair of opposed side walls 14, a
second pair of opposed side walls 16, and a cover 18 comprising
a pair of cover portions 20 one attached to the top edge of
.~ each side wall 14 by a hinge 22 and presenting a flat surface
; when closed, except for a plurality of raised lugs 21 used
for locating superimposed containers when stacked one above
the other. The lateral edges of each cover portion 20 carry
means to engage the adjacent side walls 16 of container 10 in
the form of channei 24 which overlap the upper rlm 26 of side
walls 16. An aperture 28 in one channel 24 of each cover
portion 20 and an aperture 30 in each rim 26 provi~es means
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for sealing container 10.
Cover portions 20 each have an outer free edge 30
remote from hinge 22 and each outer free edge of the cover
portions is crenellated, with a plurality of space teeth 32
having recesses 34 between the teeth, whereby the cover portions
interfit one with the other when closed. Teeth 32 are each
wedge-shaped, with the underside 33 of each tooth tapering out-
wardly towards upper surface of cover 18. The upper side 35 of
each recess 34 is sloped downwardly from the upper surface of
cover 18 and upwardly abuts its opposing tooth 32 when the
cover is in closed position, as seen in Figures 3 and 5 of the
drawings.
When container 10 has been loaded cover portions
20 are closed and sealed, presenting a flat upper face of cover
18 with outer free edges 30 of cover portions 20 in inter-
engaging relationship and with the upper sides 35 of recesses
34 flush with the undersides 33 of teeth 32. When cover 18
is closed and sealed the interfitting of free edges 30 of
cover portions 20 inhibit any attempt to pry up the free edge
of either cover portion by forcing a tool laterally under either
free edge.
Container 10 is preferably constructed of structural
foam plastic which gives the container the required thickness
to enable teeth 32 and recesses 34 to have sloping opposed
sides 33 and 35, providing the teeth with adequate resistance
against being pried up to break open cover l8. Structural foam
is a rigid thermoplastic material having a cellular core
between two integral solid skins as described in a 1973, 1974
brochure of Union Carbide Corporation entitled "Structural
Foam". Such a material gives adequate rigidity to Container
10 coupled with lightness of weight and inexpensiveness.
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